Metal legends ACCEPT have posted via their official website that vocalist Mark Tornillo and guitarist Wolf Hoffmann will be appearing live in the studio on Sirius XM’s Trunk Nation. The band stated:

“BLIND RAGE will be released in the USA on Tuesday! Mark Tornillo will be live in the studio with Eddie Trunk tomorrow night (Monday) on Sirius XM’s Trunk Nation at 9pm. Wolf Hoffmann will be calling in to the show! Besides talking about BLIND RAGE Mark will also talk about the upcoming Gramercy NY show on September 15th.”

“Blind Rage”,released in Europe on 15th August was produced by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH). The cover artwork was designed by Daniel Goldsworthy (HELL).

ACCEPT is one of the most influential bands from the German heavy metal scene. Their mark on the industry is remarkable, like a shining star in the dark sky of the night. Like the other band they have had their up and down moments, but May 2009 was absolutely different. It was a highlight in their career when they rose to ” Make the ‘Metal Heart’ beat again.“

The new line up announcement was not a shock though, as everybody was expecting a change in the front man section. But Mark Tornillo was not a very well known name in the industry. The fans and critics who didn’t know Mark, started tracking his work in TT QUICK to find some clues to how ACCEPT ‘s new music would be. “Blood Of The Nations” ended all the speculation and rumours in August 2010. Mark ‘s performance was such a great one that most people didn’t feel the lack of the legendary Udo Dirkschneider, some fans and critics stated “It’s even better …”

Mark Tornillo proved to the metal universe that he deserves to front the mighty ACCEPT, who are back to remind us that the ‘Metal Heart’ is unstoppable eternally.

Metal Shock Finland appreciate what Mark and ACCEPT did and do in the heavy metal industry, so here our Birthday messages to Mark and it’s the least we could do.

Chief Editor Mohsen Fayyazi:

“I cannot imagine the Heavy Metal world without ACCEPT, nor ACCEPT without Mark now! You whispered life into our metal hearts again, Bravo Mark! Happy Birthday to you and I wish you all the best and METAL from the bottom of my heart. Cheers!!!“

Senior Manager Ali Blackdiamond:

“ACCEPT will always have a special place in my heart, they are one of my all time favourite bands. The new era with Mark as vocalist is a very exciting one and they thoroughly deserve their esteemed position in metal history. I can’t wait for “Blind Rage” and would like to wish Mark a very Happy Metal Birthday with many more to come! Cheers and best wishes. :)”

Teresa Hopkins:

“Mark Tornillo was vital to one of the most serendipitous moments in Metal history: the rebirth of ACCEPT! But it was more than just a band reforming and making new albums. ACCEPT was the true Phoenix, rising from the ashes of what we thought would be no more, to burn brighter and stronger than ever. I am truly happy for him, the band, and the fans–we have the privilege of enjoying some of the best music around and once again they are living the dream. Mark is one of the nicest, coolest, most humble guys around–he’s the real deal and I can’t think of anyone more worthy of celebration today. A very happy 60th Birthday is wished for Mark Tornillo–and every blessing hereafter!”

ACCEPT and Wolf Hoffmann are on top of a high mountain now. Releasing two successful albums and selling out many shows during their last worldwide tour are good examples of this claim. However they still have a shining career in their background. That’s why we call them legends. Blackdiamond recently conducted an interview with Wolf, some excerpts of which can be read below.

Whilst discussing Ronnie James Dio, Wolf expressed the following thoughts:

“Not only was he an awesome singer, everybody worshipped him, he was also a very nice person to be around; gentleman like.

We toured with him in 1986, did a whole North American run, opening up for him. He was always very generous and let us use the stage, gave us sound checks and all that kind of stuff. I remember it was a very pleasant tour.

He wasn’t a guy who would hang around all the time – he would do his thing and keep to himself. Then we’d exchange pleasantries and say hi, then we had a beer together. That’s the extent of what we do when we open up for other bands, but he was very nice.“

Wolf revealed his opinion on the classic DIO album Holy Diver:

“Oh man, classic riffs and classic songs, it doesn’t get much better than that! From the ultra heavy metal era that I know, this is one of the classic albums. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Probably Holy Diver is my favourite track.“

Wolf explains the highlights in his and ACCEPT‘s career:

“Coming back after this long break with Mark Tornillo, that was to me the highlight of our career. It was such a crazy story, nobody thought it was going to work, everybody said ‘who needs ACCEPT with a new singer?’ Nobody’s expectations were high, everybody had written it off before it had started.

Then when the album came out and everyone saw us on stage and how on fire we were and how much alive we were, everything turned around and that was a crazy experience. That’s really a story that doesn’t happen very often.

Monsters Of Rock, Castle Donington, that was another highlight of my musical career, back in ’86. It was an amazing bill: AC/DC, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Gary Moore, Accept, Motley Crue, imagine that bill!“

You can listen to the whole of the interview on the audio player below:

As previously posted, ACCEPT vocalist, Mark Tornillo will reunite with his previous band TT QUICK for a performance at Rock N’ Roll Heaven and the Old Bridge Metal Militia‘s highly anticipated reunion concert and fundraiser to benefit the victims of Superstorm Sandy. The event will take place on May 11 at Encore Event Center in Freehold, New Jersey (106 Schank Rd). Also scheduled to appear are TWISTED SISTER, ANVIL, RAVEN, THE RODS and LORDS OF MERCY.

Mark Tornillo said:

“We need to stick together and fight back what Superstorm Sandy did to New Jersey!”

ACCEPT has just posted the following statement on their official website:

“MARK TORNILLO has been congratulated by ACCEPT band members for this great gesture to get TT QUICK together for a wonderful cause: A fundraiser to benefit the victims of Superstorm Sandy. And the one and only Eddie Trunk is hosting the night. Hats off to all the brave bands and their fans, who come together to help! We hope, that fans and friends will show up and make it very special event!”

Singer Mark Tornillo‘s pre-ACCEPT band TT QUICK will reunite for a performance at Rock N’ Roll Heaven and the Old Bridge Metal Militia‘s highly anticipated reunion concert and fundraiser to benefit the victims of Superstorm Sandy. The event will take place on May 11 at Encore Event Center in Freehold, New Jersey (106 Schank Rd). Also scheduled to appear are TWISTED SISTER, ANVIL, RAVEN, THE RODS and LORDS OF MERCY.

TT QUICK was a popular club band during the 1980s in the New York and New Jersey area and was known for the guitar work of David Dipietro and the powerful vocals of Mark Tornillo. Dipietro‘s skills were especially singled out as he had given lessons to both Zakk Wylde of the OZZY OSBOURNE band and SKID ROW‘s Dave Sabo.

TT QUICK disbanded and later reunited sporadically and released a few more albums, including a live CD from one of their reunion gigs (“Thrown Together Live”) and a studio effort, “Ink”, which came out in 2000.

New Jersey birthed heavy metal in the United States in the early 1980s. The state of New Jersey was an integral part of launching the careers of these bands, as well as everyone from Bruce Springsteen to the MISFITS to BON JOVI and more. Now, Rock N’ Roll Heaven and the Old Bridge Metal Militia are bringing these genre-founding metal bands together for this special event.

Ed Trunk (“That Metal Show”) will perform Master of Ceremonies duties, with special guest hosts and an all-star jam to be announced.

Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. and there will be a drinking section for those 21 and over. Tickets will go on sale shortly so stay tuned for purchase links coming soon. Rock N’ Roll Heaven and Old Bridge Metal Militia ask all attendees to bring canned goods or non-perishable food items for a food drive which will benefit local area soup kitchens and shelters.

Rock N’ Roll Heaven, Megaforce Records and Crazed Management founders Jon and Marsha Zazula are gearing up for the reunion. “It’s really great to bring the Militia together again and we look forward to seeing all of the old faces and new faces, both young and old,” state the Zazulas. “We’ve already heard that fans are coming in from Germany and even up from Florida. They don’t even know the lineup yet, that’s how cool this is! We can’t wait to bang with the best of them for this really good cause.”

John Gallagher of RAVEN adds, “We are proud to be part of this historic gathering of the clans of our old stomping grounds for such a worthy cause and are ready to kick major ass!!!”

“The Zazulas and I made some great albums together,” adds Carl Canedy of THE RODS. “Rock, Garry and I look forward to working with our good friends once again. No one throws a metal bash like the Zs.”

Lips of ANVIL states, “Doing this gig in New Jersey is exceptionally special to ANVIL. We are expecting to see many of the original people we met back in ’82 when we played the Route 18 Flea Market. We have remained close friends through the metal ages… we look forward to our moments together again. See you all soon.”

Rockin’ Ray and Metal Joe of the Old Bridge Metal Militia add, “We would like to take this opportunity to invite music lovers to a reunion of Rock N’ Roll Heaven and the Old Bridge Metal Militia. It should be a rockin’ night that will benefit the victims of Superstorm Sandy. Please come and show your support.”

“LORDS OF MERCY are proud to be a part of such a historical event,” states Pete Perrina of local metal band LORDS OF MERCY. “We are ready to promote this show and kick ass come show time. This show is guaranteed to be one of the HEAVEST shows of 2013!”

This is an event to benefit the victims of Superstorm Sandy, which wreaked havoc on the Jersey Shore and on the lives of its residents. Superstorm Sandy has left dozens dead and thousands homeless — making it the worst storm in the region’s history. This is a 100% non-profit event.

Commented guitarist Wolf Hoffmann: “This really swept us off our feet! Of course, you dream about being on top of the charts, but this was pretty much out of the question. We tested new waters with our new singer Mark and emerged as winners! But even more than that, this is the reward for our unique collaboration with our label Nuclear Blast, Brainstorm Music Marketing, and all the others who gave their everything for ACCEPT. But most of all, we want to thank our fans without whom we would be nothing! THANK YOU!”

“Blood of The Nations” was released in Europe the 20th August and in North America the 14th September via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD marks the recording debut of the band’s latest addition, vocalist Mark Tornillo (ex-TT Quick).